TSA Slated for Dismantling

[kskiska]

Friday, April 8, 2005; Page A01

The Transportation Security Administration, once the flagship agency in the nation's $20 billion effort to protect air travelers, is now slated for dismantling.

The latest sign came yesterday when the Bush administration asked David M. Stone, the TSA's director, to step down in June, according to aviation and government sources. Stone is the third top administrator to leave the three-year-old agency, which was swiftly created in the chaos and patriotism following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The TSA absorbed divisions of other agencies such as Federal Aviation Administration only to find itself now the victim of a massive reorganization of the Department of Homeland Security.

The TSA has been plagued by operational missteps, public relations blunders and criticism of its performance from both the public and legislators. Its "No Fly" list has mistakenly snared senators. Its security screeners have been arrested for stealing from luggage, and its passenger pat-downs have set off an outcry from women.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35333-2005Apr7?language=printer

[Deja Q]

1. Not a bad program, it just needs some intelligence and ethical workers

[karlrschneider]

2. Kind of like Democracy.

:eyes:

[htuttle]

3. Well, you see, Bush is more of a 'big picture' guy

He doesn't like spending too much time down in the details of things like actually running the executive branch. He delegates that to some other guy -- probably. Heck I don't know -- ask Dick.

BTW, somebody better tell him he's been looking at his big picture upside down.

[Orsino]

16. Big-picture guy, yes.

That way it's much easier keeping the crayons within the lines.

[Zerex71]

4. $20 billion in total window dressing.

Yeah, that was money well-spent.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. Yep. The obvious question:

"Who cashed the $20B check?" Hmmm?

[alarimer]

5. terrific. Back to the days of $5/hr security people

With no benefits. yeah, that'll be safer.

[central scrutinizer]

19. why stop there?

Let's contract everything out to the low bidder. Get rid of all firemen, policemen, teachers, and the rest of the leeches sucking up our tax dollars. Professionalism, experience and training are way over-rated. <sarcasm/off>

[bluestateguy]

6. I really don't want to go back to the days of private security companies

IS TSA perfect? No, but I always found them to be more professional than the trailer park trash employees that so commonly staffed private security companies.

Airport security companies. With their 15 minute training sessions for employees. Employees with felony records. Employees who refuse to learn English. Employees who are paid 7$ an hour with no benefits (making them susceptible to being paid off by terrorists). Employees whose sheer negligence and idiocy contributed to 9/11.

And now th Bush Administration wants to bring these absolute losers, these people with no constructive use to society, back into our airports.

Some things are best left to government to do and only government. The profit motive has no place in airport security. That's for grownups, not profiteers.

[vonSchloegel]

8. From what I understand

The TSA screeners are mostly the same people that were working the gates before 9/11, just with new uniforms, TSA windbreakers, and a government 401-k.

It‘s wrong to blame security guards for 9/11 anyway, because FAA policy permitted boxcutters before the hijacking. As usual, it was a bureaucratic oversight, that got blamed on the little guys.

[hippiechick]

11. "people with no constructive use to society" ?

... uh, pay me minimum wage to do a thankless, suckass job and you can damn well bet I'm not gonna be real 'constructive' either.

Don't blame the working folks who're just trying to get by because the Bush Admin and their cronies are trying to siphon the cash off the top.

[alarimer]

17. It was private security people who let in the terrorists

Somehow we forget this.

I know of one former security screener who had a serious brain injury; he could barely tie his shoes yet had this important job (this was before the TSA's existence).

[tanyev]

9. Ahhh, the Friday news dump.

This will certainly get lost in the Popapalooza.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. I suppose Halliburton has a new security company

big enough to take the job over?

I say, good riddance anyway... window dressing security is worse than none at all.

[Moderator]

12. kick to combine

[NNN0LHI]

13. US aviation security chief resigns following criticism

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2005/April/theworld_April210.xml§ion=theworld

WASHINGTON - The head of a US agency charged with providing post-September 11 security for commercial airlines has abruptly resigned in the wake of charges that despite a massive overhaul of security procedures, US carriers remained vulnerable to terrorist attack.


After spending on the job slightly over eight months, retired admiral David Stone has submitted his resignation letter to new Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who had accepted it, Transportation Security Administration spokesman Mark Hatfield said in a one-sentence statement made public Friday.

“Admiral Stone has informed Secretary Chertoff of his intention to step down from TSA and has agreed to the department’s request to remain until June to assist with the transition of a successor,” said the terse document.

No reason for admiral Stone’s departure was given.

[geomon666]

14. Didn't this happen before?

And won't the next idiot just do the same thing and nothing will ever be accomplished?

[Delphinus]

15. Does this mean my breasts are safe?!

I can fly without fear of search?

[AnneD]

18. your breasts are safe

but your shoes are suspicious and those tampon applicators are subject to inspection.....:tinfoilhat: